It’s no secret that social media can harm your self-esteem and confidence levels. It’s easy for someone to write an inconsiderate or even ignorant comment on somebody’s photo, blog post, or status. Social media can be a depressing place—but it doesn’t have to be.
The negativity we see on social media should never rule the way we think about ourselves and our lives. In an effort to make yourself (and your social media friends) happier, pledge to make your social media platforms kind, positive, and healthy.
Here are a few ways to make your social media platforms a happier place:
Get rid of those who spread negativity. If you’re seeing harmful posts from individuals you’re friends with, there are a few options available in your Facebook News Feed. You can hide the negative post (a gentle approach). You can also unfollow someone if they habitually post negative things (their posts won’t show up in your newsfeed, but they won’t know that you unfollowed them), or you can unfriend them completely.
On Twitter, you can unfollow those who repeatedly spread hate. The same goes for Instagram.
Use the “like” button. There’s a reason why Facebook and Instagram don’t have “dislike” buttons. If a friend posts a status or photo that’s funny and upbeat, give it a “like.”
Watch your tone. The tone of your tweet, post, and/or update matters. Before you post, ask yourself these two questions: What feeling does your update impart? How will someone feel when they read your update? You can always throw in an exclamation point here and there or a smiley face emoticon as well.
Don’t compare yourself to others. This is especially important if you spend a lot of time on Instagram. It’s easy to get into the habit of comparing yourself to what you see others doing on social media. Their relationship might seem perfect. You know their abs are perfectly defined because they post photos of their stomachs, and you know that they got those abs by drinking protein drinks because they post photos of that, too. Other people might seem like world travelers. It’s pretty easy to distort or manipulate on Instagram and Facebook; the worst thing you can do is compare your life to theirs. Real lives are messy and imperfect. That’s okay.
Try to post at least one positive thing every day. Take a look at The Nectar Collective’s article on how to be positive on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and in your emails. Here’s an example they give: Every morning, start your day with a post that begins with “today I’m looking forward to…” and end your day with “today, I was thankful for…”
How do you spread the positivity on your social media platforms? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook. If you would like to set up an appointment to see Reka, you can reach her at 402-881-8125. You can also email her at reka@omaha-counseling.com.
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